Our Twinned Towns

The concept of twinning European towns was born out of the desire for a durable peace following the Second World War. The concept has now matured into a powerful mechanism for economic and social cooperation and personal enrichment whilst encouraging respect for individual differences and aspirations. There are currently over 15,000 twinning agreements across Europe with Crewe being one of the first towns to become involved. In 1957, a twinning agreement was signed between Crewe and the French town of Mâcon.

To help support this the Crewe and Nantwich Twinning Association (CANTA) was formed to promote and foster friendship between the people of Crewe and Nantwich and those of other European nations. The association works with organisations and supports school initiatives within the Borough and receives grants from the local authority to help support their work.

Crewe and Nantwich are twined with three towns in Europe. These are Mâcon, France and Bischofsheim, Germany and Dzierżoniów, Poland.

The Borough of Crewe and Nantwich continued the work and officially twinned with Bischofsheim, Germany in 1991. And following this, an agreement was established with Dzierżoniów, Poland. Local groups as diverse as choral societies, schools, fire-fighters, football clubs and guides have benefited from twinning activities and visits. The scheme has established lifelong friendships, a greater appreciation of other cultures and languages, and the opportunity to have a great deal of fun.

The Towns

Mâcon, France 🇫🇷

The Borough was officially twinned with Mâcon in 1957. The town is located in eastern France with a population of around 35,000 residents and since Roman times the town has been a major junction on the banks of the River Saône. It has an ideal base for exploring the surrounding countryside, including the famous Mconnais and Beaujolais vineyards.

The town is also home to a multitude of medieval architecture. The area offers a variety of churches, castles, monasteries and villages. In the spring and summer, Mâcon takes great pride in its floral displays. The poet and diplomat Alphonse de Lamartine has an honoured place in Mcon's history. His statue stands on the banks of the Saône in a fine square opposite the Town Hall.

Bischofsheim, Germany 🇩🇪

Bischofsheim is a delightful traditional German town in the state of Hessen, with a population of around 14,000. The town is located between Mainz, Wiesbaden, Darmstadt and Frankfurt with the rivers Rhine and Main and their famous vineyards close by. Bischofsheim provides an ideal hospitable base for visiting these places of interest, culture and beauty. It can trace its history back to the Romans who built a settlement here, later occupied by the Franks.

Bischofsheim strongly mirrors Crewe because of its railway history. The town did not become well established until the development of the railways in the 19th Century. When a new line was built linking it to Frankfurt, it became one of the most important junctions for freight and passenger traffic in southern Germany.

Just as it did in Crewe, the railways brought in new families and businesses, which needed new homes, roads and schools. Thanks to the railway, Bischofsheim's population doubled within half a century, and it became known as the 'Railway Community'. Still, one of its most distinguishable landmarks today is an unusually designed water tower, built in the late 1920's to feed hundreds of thirsty steam engines. Although Bischofsheim is a residential town, numerous commercial and industrial concerns are located within a 20km radius, including the famous Opel motor car plant in Russelsheim.

Dzierżoniów, Poland 🇵🇱

Dzierżoniów is situated in Lower Silesia about 50 km southwest of Wroclaw with its traditions dating back as far back as the Middle Ages. This area has had a turbulent history, having been annexed by Prussia in 1740. From 1871 it was part of Germany as the German town of Reichenbach until 1945 when it was transferred from Germany to Poland, many of its German inhabitants had fled before the war's end, while most of those who had stayed were expelled.

The town has a population of around 106,000 residents and is a compact industrial and agricultural area interwoven by numerous hills and bounded to the south by a mountain range. In the last 15 years, German, Danish, French and American investment has brought new companies into being and the area now has a strong and diverse industrial base.

The region has numerous attractions. The hills, mountains and nearby natural and artificial lakes are tailor made for activity holidays. Winter brings skiing opportunities. For a more leisurely visit, the towns have a rich historical heritage to explore. There are fine palaces and churches, a luxurious hydrotherapy spa and a famous arboretum-botanical garden - at its best in May when the Rhododendrons are in bloom.